SPQR

A History of Ancient Rome

A prominent classicist explores ancient Rome and how its citizens adapted the notion of imperial rule, invented the concepts of citizenship and nation, and made laws about those traditionally overlooked in history, including women, slaves, and criminals.

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Loved it! But it is long. Mary Beard is a brilliant historian and a very good writer. As she reveals in the epilogue, the book is her product of fifty years of research.
SPOR is Latin for Senate and the People Of Rome. She begins with the myth about Romulus and Remus being suckled by the wolf to 212 CE when the emperor Caracalla granted Roman citizenship to every inhabitant of the empire. Beard doesn't drill down only on dates, battles and rulers but also on what it was like for common people living at the time. This kind of detail is rare to find and beard cites discoveries in Germany, Britain, Syria and Africa as recently as 2012 to shed light on the breadth of Roman influence.
She also makes comparisons to modern empires and draws inferences about mistakes they are making based on what these previous empire builders made 2000 years ago. She doesn't get on a soapbox about this, however, to insult the reader. You are left to draw your own conclusions.
I came upon SPOR after reading Roman Mask by Thomas M D Brooke (on Kindle, not in the library). Brooke's novel is about the disastrous campaign of the Romans against the barbarian German tribes in the Teutoburg Forest east of the Rhine River. The Germans wiped out three entire Roman legions after which the empire's decline began. Beard's deals with this near the end of SPOR. The conclusion of both is that empires like everything else lasts for only a finite time period. The more the empire relies on provincial allies the more likely is the probability that the provincials will rebel against the overlord. Clearly a message for the US in 2016.

A great book on the history of Rome from its mythical origins to 212 CE. Beard tries separate myths from historical facts as much as possible and to shed lights on aspects of Roman life that get neglected in the usual emperor by emperor chronicles. A demanding but rewarding read.

Expansive and involving history of the Rome, from its mythic founding by Romulus and Remus to its growth into a global empire. Classics professor Mary Beard is certainly scholarly, but the book is rarely dry and she is a firm proponent in history's continued relevance. While it does help to have some background in the era, newcomers and experienced readers will all learn something. Familiar names like Augustus, Julius, Cicero, Nero, and Spartacus all show up and Beard both explores the legends and the realities. She's not afraid to connect to pop culture, something that separates her from many academics. It is a demanding read, coming in at over 500 pages, not including copious notes, but it is well worth your time. The title refers to "The Senate and People of Rome."

I enjoy Mary Beard's Guardian articles about ancient times. However, this book disappointed. I had hoped to read about the women of ancient Rome, but they are mentioned only in relation to men. Sadly, this is probably realistic in terms of women's lives.